Wes Streeting has said he would be prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister as early as next week, warning that “uncertainty and paralysis” in the party must be resolved. The former health secretary told BBC Newsnight that if Labour wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election, the leadership question could no longer be left to drift. “I think the prime minister should be given some space and time to reflect over the weekend,” Streeting said, “and I think we should see where we are then. I would prefer the PM to take a decision on his own terms rather than leave it for me or Andy or anyone else to trigger a contest.” But he added: “If not we can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis and there will need to be a contest and I would be prepared to do that.”
Streeting’s intervention comes as the by-election in Makerfield looms, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham standing to return to parliament. If Burnham wins, he will become an MP and will be able to initiate or join a leadership race – something he is currently unable to do. Both men have previously said they would stand in any contest to replace Starmer, but had shied away from saying whether they would trigger one. Asked when he might launch a challenge, Streeting told the BBC: “I’m not going to get into ‘is it Monday, is it Tuesday and all the rest of it’ – let’s give the prime minister a bit of space over the weekend to reflect on his position.” He earlier confirmed he had the backing of the 81 Labour MPs needed to launch a leadership challenge.
“Wes Streeting says he would trigger a Labour leadership contest next week if Starmer does not resign.”
The prime minister, speaking at the G7 summit in France, reiterated his intention “not to walk away” but to “carry on with what I was elected to do”. But Starmer’s leadership has looked increasingly precarious. Streeting resigned from government last month, accusing the prime minister of drift and a lack of vision. Since then, Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces minister Al Carns have both resigned over the defence investment plan, according to the New Statesman. In an interview with the New Statesman’s Ethan Croft, Streeting spoke candidly about why he left government and what Labour needs to do to reverse its ailing fortunes.
At a separate event in central London on Tuesday, Streeting set out his own economic vision, presenting himself as the financially responsible candidate who would encourage growth and bring taxes down. He told his audience that any leadership contest must not become a race of who can offer “the most expensive and popular pledges to the party faithful at the expense of the British people”. He also acknowledged that polls suggest Burnham is more popular with Labour members, describing himself as the underdog in any contest. But the former health secretary seemed keen to strike the first blows in what he called a “battle of ideas” over the party’s future direction.